4.27.2011

Earning a License - the Stress is Lifted

How much should real life intrude on the pleasant fantasy of the Blogosphere?

Not so much.  This is my hobby, so I work hard not to drag the stresses of my stressful job onto the pages of this blog.  I love my job, but man do I need a break at the end of the day!

I've been working in the MHMR industry for most of my adult life; mostly for the later half but now for the former.  I work on the acute unit of a forensic hospital...

...so I see some very ill people - and I don't get to meet them at their best.  If I'm lucky, and I bust my butt, maybe I can do my part in aiding in someone's recovery.

I love my job.  I love what I do.

But I've been under a great deal of additional stress for the last few months.  I took a semester off graduate school to take the position of which I just spoke, but it hinged on my passing a licensing test.  I was confident I would pass, but honestly I wasn't invested in the same way I am now... I figured, "Hey, if I fail I'll just move on, right?"

But I didn't want to, nor is it that easy.

In my profession about 1 in 5 people fail the licensing exam.  You get 3 tries, after which you can't qualify to take it again without years of extra effort.

I didn't have the option of a repeat - if I failed I was going to be fired.  It doesn't matter how well-prepared one is, that's stress on a whole other level!

Bottom line, I passed.  I did well, in fact, but that's secondary to getting it all behind me!

It's a huge weight lifted.  Here's hoping I get my free time back...

14 comments:

  1. grats- now write something else for BoLS so more people can hate on you for no reason

    ReplyDelete
  2. congratulations. I know you worked hard and worried intently about passing that thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats Brent - it must feel like the weight of a world has been lifted off your shoulders. I remember the feeling when I first entered graduate school - I was accepted on academic probation and to have at least a 3.0 average after my first 16 hours of classes or I'd have gotten the proverbial boot. My first semester I signed up for 16 hours thinking I could easily knock out a B average and be on my way but it was too much... I was working around the clock everyday - it was super stressful. Final exams rolled around and I needed a perfect score for one exam to achieve my goal - the professor called time and I still had one problem to finish - the professor was literally standing beside my desk shouting at me to turn in the exam as I completed the last problem... Everything was on the line. I finished up the exam and handed it as the professor was leaving the classroom. I made the grade though and everything ended up working out. I'm glad those days are over now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats mate, its always nice to shoot for a goal and make the grade.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well done Brent - it's good to hear.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thats the worst 40k advice ever!!! lol =P oops I mean.. Congrats man!!! Always good to get that un needed pressure off your back.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jen told me you were napping and deserved it due to this. I guess she's right but if she kicks or kisses you, one of them is from me!

    Congratulations Brent :), I know how hard you've been working and it's great to have that pay off :).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well done, my little punching bag.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congrats Brent! Sounds like a rough position to be in, glad you moved through it.

    ReplyDelete